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Meet Lilly

Meet Lilly, the incredible 17-year-old defying the odds and taking on the big stage. When she was just 12 weeks old, Lilly was diagnosed with Leber’s congenital amaurosis, a rare inherited condition causing her to be totally blind.

Lilly’s passion and determination are boundless. A talented musician, Lilly sings and plays the trumpet and has recently performed in a professional show, The Grinning Man. She has also been a part of our very own Carols by Candlelight many times. 

Lilly sits on a couch with her two cats

Vision Australia has been a part of Lilly’s life from the start. 

“They’re the reason I was able to tackle school like any other kid. They helped me, and especially my parents, deal with the blindness and have given me great opportunities over the years.” 

— Lilly

“Vision Australia called us within a day of Lilly’s diagnosis and were out within a week. We had the most amazing early childhood educator who set our world straight. For us, there is no imagining life without Vision Australia. There’s no other way that we could’ve moved forward,” Lisa explains.

Reflecting on the impact that Vision Australia and Carols by Candlelight have had on her life, Lilly has a message for all supporters: “Any small thing you can do will make a huge difference in someone’s life, whether that be for a child or their family. Vision Australia does amazing things and can change someone’s life in a lot of ways, the more support they get, the more they can support people all around Australia.” 

How your donations support young people like Lilly

Vision Australia empowers teens who are blind or have low vision to succeed academically, socially, and personally. This prepares young people for future independence and career readiness. 

For Lilly, this support includes: 

Accessible learning materials

Supplying braille, large print, and digital resources to support a young person’s academic goals. 

Orientation and mobility training

Teaching essential navigation skills and orientation techniques to encourage independence and self-confidence. 

Career readiness

Offering programs like LEAP, focusing on employability skills and self-confidence as a young person prepares for their future. 

Teacher and school support

Working alongside schools to ensure young people receive the support needed to thrive in their studies and beyond.

Lilly plays the trumpet

Music is Lilly’s world. Vision Australia’s support has helped provide her with the resources to read braille music and pursue her passion as her school’s Music Prefect.